2012-2013 Catalogue

Community Development and Applied Economics (Master of Science)

Overview

The Department of Community Development and Applied Economics (CDAE) supports sustainable local and international community development through interdisciplinary research, education and outreach that serves the public interest. CDAE offers a Master of Science degree in Community Development and Applied Economics. Expertise among the CDAE faculty advisors includes economics (both ecological and neoclassical), ecological design and renewable energy, public policy, community entrepreneurship, cross-cultural communication, consumer affairs, food systems and political process. CDAE's research and outreach is both global and local (e.g., dairy farming and farmers' markets in Vermont) and graduate students benefit from close affiliation with other research institutions at the University of Vermont and beyond.

General Requirements

Specific Requirements

Requirements for Admission to Graduate Studies for the Degree of Master of Science

GPA = 3.00 or equivalent from bachelor's degree.

Satisfactory scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); official scores are required.

Three letters of recommendation attesting to the candidate’s academic potential for graduate work and motivation for pursuing the M.S. in CDAE.

For international students whose native language is not English or who have not completed undergraduate degrees in English, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores must be submitted. Minimum acceptable scores for admission to the Graduate College at UVM: internet-based = 80; computer-based = 213; paper-based = 550. Minimum acceptable scores for a student receiving funding from UVM: internet-based = 100; computer-based = 250; paper-based = 600. Institution code for test scores for UVM is 3920.

NOTE: The application deadlines for the program are mid-February (for an acceptance decision by March 1) for fall funding consideration. Open enrollment for others.

Requirements for Advancement to Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Science

Specific course work may be required of those who lack calculus, statistics and/or microeconomics background.

Minimum Degree Requirements

The degree requires a total of thirty credits, of which twenty-four are from advanced courses in CDAE and other related fields plus six credits of thesis research. A written comprehensive examination and an oral defense of a thesis are also required. A student's thesis research is often an integral part of faculty-led, ongoing research projects in CDAE.

Students in the graduate program must have a 3.00 grade point average to remain a degree candidate. A student may be dismissed from the Graduate College if two or more grades below a "B" are received.

Core Course Requirements

Four core courses and graduate research seminars are required for each graduate student: